The Best Time to Post on the Instagram App and Other Social Media

Your social media post looks perfect. It includes an eye-catching image, a relevant hashtag, and compelling copy. But do you know when to share it?

It turns out that one time slot doesn’t fit all when it comes to the best time to post on social media. Just as each social media app is different, your followers access each one at different times.

Knowing the ideal time of day and day of the week your followers are likely to see your posts on each social channel can make or break engagement. This guide will show you the best times to post on the Instagram app and other popular social media platforms.

The Best Time to Post on Facebook

Facebook is the most popular social media platform with 68% of all Americans using the site and nearly three-quarters of those users logging on every day at various times. People access the site whether they’re at home, at work, or running errands and they use both mobile and desktop devices to do so.

But while Facebook users access the site on a fairly regular basis, research reveals that 12 PM to 3 PM on weekdays (except for Tuesdays) and 12 PM to 1 PM on weekends are the sweet spots when your chances at reaching them are highest.

Facebook’s 2017 algorithm changes made it more difficult for brands’ organic posts to be seen by their followers. In addition to scheduling your posts when they’re likely to be viewed, you may also want to invest in Facebook ads to boost the visibility of your posts.

Posting more frequently (at least four times per day) and making sure your content is valuable and high quality will help increase your posts’ visibility. Facebook’s algorithm removes memes and other posts it considers low-quality content from users’ feeds.

The insights section of your brand’s Facebook page can also provide valuable information about when to share content with your followers. Click on posts to view which ones have the highest reach and engagement and note the time and day these were shared to see if there’s a pattern.

The Best Time to Post on Twitter

Twitter is less image-heavy and therefore, finding the best time to tweet may depend on whether your brand is a business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C) model.

B2C brands have the best luck when they schedule tweets when their followers aren’t working, such as before 9 AM and after 5 PM during the workweek. The noontime lunch hour is also a great time to tweet as many Twitter followers are catching up on their feed then.

B2B brands, however, often find their tweets are mostly seen and attract the most engagement when sent between 12 PM and 3 PM on weekdays when most of their audience is working.

The Best Time to Post on the Instagram App

Since Instagram was created for mobile devices, people can and do access it anywhere they take their phone and all hours of the day. However, you still need to keep some tips in mind about the best time to post on Instagram.

Instagram updated its algorithm in 2018 which means posts are no longer displayed to your followers in a chronological order like before but are now more visible if they have a high engagement rate.

That means you need to be mindful about the best times to post to the Instagram app. Peak engagement times are during the work week between noon and 5 PM.

There are also several ways to work around Instagram’s algorithm and increase the chances of your posts’ visibility, no matter what time you share them.

One of these is to take advantage of the feature called Instagram Stories. This feature allows you to boost engagement by posting a poll or sharing a video.

Another tip is to respond to comments on your Instagram posts, especially within an hour of posting. Besides showing your followers that you sincerely care about their comments, this practice will also tell the Instagram algorithm to display your post to at least 10% of your followers.

The Best Time to Post on LinkedIn

LinkedIn’s main purpose as a professional network versus a social one means its users are most likely to access it during their work hours. Monday through Thursday from 7:45 AM up until 5:45 PM is when a post on LinkedIn is likely to get to be seen.

This means you may want to avoid sharing posts on Fridays as users’ minds are focused on the weekends. By Saturday and Sunday, activity on the site trails off.

The Best Time to Post on Pinterest

Pinterest has emerged in recent years as a valuable SEO platform that can drive more followers to your site. Depending on your brand and audience, you may want to include it in your social media mix.

Studies vary on the peak time frame to post content to Pinterest, but it’s been generally found that most users are not on the site during working hours. According to Pinterest’s data, 45% of its users watch TV while using the app. That means prime time, or after 8 PM, is when users are most likely to see your content.

Saturday and Sunday between 12 PM to 1 PM are also considered a prime time to share content on Pinterest.

Additional Tips

Keep in mind that you don’t have to use every available social media platform; only choose ones that your followers use and fit your brand’s personality. If your target customers are adults 50+, for example, then you probably don’t have to worry about the best time to post on the Instagram app.

Once you’ve narrowed down the most suitable social media platforms for your brand, experiment with sharing posts at various times and days to see if there’s a pattern. Get to know your audience, and take the time zones where they live into consideration when scheduling posts.